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Zoom consumers are micro-influencers on their own: Nikhil Gandhi
MUMBAI: Zoom, the entertainment channel of Times Network recently revamped its identity from just Zoom to Zoom styled by Myntra. The revamped version went live on 19 April 2018 at 9 pm. Now Zoom has a sub brand called Zoom Studio, which will provide content to many OTT players.
Currently, the channel has 10 million unique visitors per month and on social media, the channel is followed by 20 million people, according to Times Network president Nikhil Gandhi.
At Indiantelevision.com’s new video economy event BrandVid powered by Colors, Gandhi said, "The most important thing that has come out of this deal is how we trade around with content that works well for them as well as us.” From Myntra’s strategic point of view to build and influence the whole fashion space, we were lucky to have the timings so well matched that it jelled into their own strategy. The association went beyond just plain vanilla branding to largely on the back of content."
The event was organised by Indiantelevision.com on 30 October 2018 in Mumbai, for brands, agencies, marketers, broadcasters, publishers and producers to understand how to work closely and create short form and long form content which will connect with the audience directly.
The deal is a monetised partnership that Gandhi is optimistic will travel beyond at least three years. Outfits for the anchors on the channel are provided by Myntra. Zoom aimed to leverage Myntra’s style quotient for a new look and feel, shows, web-series, short formats and exclusive experiences.
By the end of the year, its new Zoom Live division will be available. “We are working on a very strategic initiative on how we influence our community which is beyond engaging on digital as well as television. We are building on a phenomenon called ‘Escapism’ where we want the consumers to escape from their reality into our world and engage with them with great content.”
The channel has original content produced by Zoom like Reunion, Ready to Mingle, Imperfect and many more. Myntra and Zoom get the traction on board in equal measure for the shows. Gandhi believes that each of their consumers are micro-influencers on their own.
“On the other hand we have been able to also take advantage of the things they have, fashion as a category lends organically to the whole of Bollywood. If you go to the Myntra site, we now have a Zoom store on it and we provide a lot of content to them and they engage with their consumers on how they can influence their buying patterns as far as the content is concerned,” he pointed.
At the time of the revamp, Gandhi mentioned that they are targeting the sweet spot of 15-24-year-olds.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
